Central AC and Edinburgh Uni head Senior podiums at Cumbernauld

Saturday 22nd October 2022

Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds are our first winners of the Marjory Cook Trophy in the Senior Women’s race at Cumbernauld (photo by Bobby Gavin)

*Report still subject to alterations and corrections.

Provisional Results (on right of page)

Central AC and Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds maintained their winning streaks at the Lindsays National XC Relays.

But that mere statement of fact around the Senior races hardly beings to capture the drama, excitement and enthusiasm engendered on the return to Cumbernauld for the first time in three years.

Mud and medals were guaranteed, of course, while big entry numbers always adds an extra sense of occasion.

Or maybe it was the sight of Jenny Selman, who competed at the Commonwealth Games in the summer, racing in Fife AC colours instead of Team Scotland blue, that somehow transported the summer feel-good factor around track and field to the misty and wet parklands of Cumbernauld House.

Our volunteers made it happen once again and, on a day when folk really did smile through the rain and pain, the atmosphere was special.

Here are few noteworthy highlights for starters. . .

*Central AC won the Senior Men’s race for the ninth time in 10 years – thanks to their B team. The club’s strength could not have been better emphaised by the sight of their B team on top of the podium and the A team taking the bronzes.

*Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds made it four-in-a-row in the Senior Women’s race with European U20 champion Megan Keith leading the green vests home just as she did at Perth last year.

Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds thus the first winners of our Marjory Cook Trophy.

*Shettleston Harriers took bronze medals in that race – with silvers for Selman and company for Fife AC. It’s the first national medals for Shettleston in this event in the Women’s division.

*Garscube Harriers B won the Women’s Masters race with their medallists including Lesley (Chisholm) Bell on a day when there were three generations of that family involved with both Lesley daughter and her dad pulling on spikes.

*PH Racing took silvers in that Women’s Masters race and their men went one better with gold in the Men’s Masters category on an excellent day for the Fife club

*Cumbernauld AAC took full advantage of their home venue with a memorable success in the M50 race. One of their team, Stephen Allen has won multiple medals over many years but this was a first-ever team success for a man who has been running for 40 years.

Central AC B team took the Senior Men’s golds at Cumbernauld (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Back to the Senior Men’s race.

Central B were well served by Luca Fanotolli, Cameron Milne and Tom-Graham Marr before English athlete, Kieran Reilly, came up with a fine last leg to win.

Reilly over-hauled Alistair Hay, which is no mean feat, with a strong run from Ben Potrykus giving Inverclyde AC the silver medals.

‘The lads before me set up the opportunity and I realised early on that there was a chance I could get ahead,’ said Kieran.

‘It was a brilliant event once again and the spectators around the course give you so much encouragement.’

Central’s dominance was highlighted of course with two sets of medals, they went gold-silver last year, and Cameron Milne said: ‘It’s great for the club and tough on those making the team selection decisions.

‘I think to be honest we are all the ‘A team’ and it is a really good day for us to have eight athletes on the podium.’

PH Racing Club took the Men’s Masters golds thanks to the efforts of Roger Clark, Mark Ryan, Andy Davis and Ben Hukins. Gala Harriers took the silvers and Shettleston landed bronzes.

Cumbernauld won the M50 Men’s race thanks to runs from Steven Allen, Ross McEachern and Alan Cameron. Nice moment, that, for coach Alastair Macfarlane who does so much work with Masters athletes at Cumbernauld.

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Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds always looked hot favourites for the Women’s race.

And, with a large and competitive contingent, there was a prospect of more than one set of green vests on the podium.

Fife and Shettleston put a stop to that in the end as the winning team of students featured Constance Nankivell, Alice Goodall, Sarah Calvert and Megan Keith. In fact, Edinburgh Uni took fourth and fifth in the race, as well!

‘It was good to be back at Cumbernauld and it was pretty muddy in places,’ said Megan.

‘With the hills I would say it is a good deal harder than Scone Palace last year but we were determined to maintain this winning streak for the Hare and Hounds.’

Fife were well-served by Selman’s strong run and anchored by Steph Pennycook, who made the effort to travel from Leeds to compete.

‘I’ve won here before with Edinburgh Uni but it was nice to race for my first club and represent Fife AC,’said Steph.

‘Jenny asked me if I fancied racing it and I knew right away I wanted to – you see so many friendly faces.’

Garscube won the Women’s Masters race thanks to the efforts of Lesley Bell, Jill Blee and Katie White. PH Racing took silvers as mentioned above and West End Road Runners, with the bronzes, landed their first ever national medals.

Giffnock North took home the golds in the W50 Women’s race thanks to their trio of Allie Chong, Sheila Lewis and Hilary Carswell. Edinburgh AC landed the silvers and Gala were in third.